Police Officer Involved Domestic Violence.
Lighting a candle of remembrance for those who've lost their lives to domestic violence behind the blue wall, for strength and wisdom to those still there, and a non-ending prayer for those who thought they had escaped but can't stop being afraid.

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Tne day after Judge Willie Weaver's wife [Vester Weaver] publicly said he never hit her, we know more about what she told police a few weeks ago that led to Weaver's arrest... According to the police incident report from the alleged assault in May, Mrs. Weaver said she had issued between one and five complaints of previous abuse. Monday, she said there had been no earlier reports of abuse... According to the full police report, Vester Weaver told the initial officer her husband was intoxicated and hit her in the head with a beer bottle... She also told an officer her husband waived a gun and said he would "blow peoples heads off"... The report claims she received six stitches... And on that police report, where it does say 'children were present during the alleged crime', a box is checked "yes"... The [previous] Jan. 28 report, which is labeled "domestic violence unfounded," was filed by Lt. Carmelita Preston and was signed by supervising officer Capt. Mack Green. Green's house is where the May 21 incident occurred...

They were at a cop's house socializing when Vester got the beer bottle or mystery gash on her head. So why is no one mentioning the absence of witness statements? Since Vester said that Judge Weaver was waving a gun and yelling threats, why are there no statements saying he did or he didn't from the other adults present? And the church backing up Vester's recant? Jesus weeps.

To those of you who are unfamiliar with how frequently victims of abuse by law enforcement officers and public officials decide to say NOTHING HAPPENED after first reporting abuse, take a minute to run a search in this blog for the word RECANT. This happens all the time. (There are search boxes on this page.)

[Excerpts] One day after Judge Willie Weaver's wife publicly said he never hit her, we know more about what she told police a few weeks ago that led to Weaver's arrest. According to the full police report, Vester Weaver told the initial officer her husband was intoxicated and hit her in the head with a beer bottle. She did not make that claim to other officers. Mrs. Weaver told one officer she and her husband were talking about a text message when she felt something running down her face and then saw blood on her hands. She also told an officer her husband waived a gun and said he would "blow peoples heads off." The report claims she received six stitches. It's unclear how much of that information will be allowed into evidence in court because Mrs. Weaver could invoke spousal privilege and refuse to testify against her husband... [Full article here]

JUDGE'S WIFE CHANGES HER STORY

WALB

By Jennifer Emert

Jun 06, 2011

[Excerpts] The wife of Albany Municipal Court Judge Willie Weaver, Vester, now claims her husband never assaulted her, and Monday she asked the state to drop the criminal charges and the stay away order against her husband... At a news conference at her church, Vester Weaver wouldn't answer our questions, as to why she changed her story. She simply made the statement and walked away from the podium, but the state may not honor her request. Mrs. Weaver had some strong words for the state with friends and members of her church behind her. "My husband did not hit me, nor has he ever hit me," she said. That goes against the Albany Police Domestic Violence Report on the incident that happened at Albany Police Captains Mack Green's house in May that says Weaver caused superficial injuries to his wife Vester and also made threats and used abusive language. Vester Weaver also wants the stay away order as part of his bond dropped. "I never requested this order and I wish to have this order removed so that my husband and I can live together and take care of our children that we are raising together," Mrs. Weaver said. The church also stood behind the Weavers. "Judge Weaver will treat you with respect," said Hope Center Pastor Loretta Boges. "Unfortunately there are many who are in positions of power in this community who does not like that. Those people who will not like that have come against Judge Weaver and we have seen that wrath over the last few days." "But she continues to find herself fearful and distrustful of the media and some law enforcement agencies and personnel," said Weaver's Pastor, Rev. James Bush.... "When we have people rallying behind something that is a crime then you have to wonder about what is this community thinking," [Liberty House Exec. Director Silke] Deeley said... According to the police incident report from the alleged assault in May, Mrs. Weaver said she had issued between one and five complaints of previous abuse. Monday, she said there had been no earlier reports of abuse. [Full article here]

DID VESTER WEAVER FALSIFY POLICE STATEMENT?

mysouthwestga.com

by Allen Carter

Posted: 06.07.2011

[Excerpts] On Monday the wife of Albany Municipal Court Judge Willie Weaver said the charges that he attacked her are not true. However in the police report obtained by fox 31 officers she was attacked by her husband. Which means one of the statements is a lie, and if it's what she told police then it could also be a crime... According to the report Vester Weaver told officers that her husband was intoxicated and hit her in the head with a beer bottle. Weaver was taken here to Palmyra Park Medical Center and received six stitches. Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards is not working on the Weaver case and didn't comment specifically on it, but says giving a false statement to police is a felony crime... No charges have been brought against Vester Weaver and for now she says she plans to stand by her husband. If the victim doesn't want to testify it can make the case that much more difficult in domestic violence cases... Edwards says she would have spousal privilege not to testify, but there is one hang up. “If there is an event that occurs in the presence of children of the marriage, then you cannot invoke spousal privilege to not invoke spousal privilege relative to whatever the situation may be,” said Edwards. And on that police report, where it does say 'children were present during the alleged crime', a box is checked "yes"... [LINK]

The Albany City Commission votes to accept a request from Municipal Court Judge Willie Weaver for an indefinite leave of absence from the court.

REPORT GIVES CONFLICTING EVIDENCE IN WEAVER CASE: A report on an alleged domestic altercation between a judge and his wife points to a wife with six stitches above her eye denying her husband did it.

Albany Herald

Pete Skiba

June 7, 2011

[Excerpts] The alleged victim in a case of domestic violence involving an Albany Municipal Court judge and his wife is far from cooperative. According to an Albany Police Department domestic violence report, Judge Willie Weaver’s wife, Vester Weaver, was struck in the eye, bled and received six stitches ... The report added that, while at a 704 Cantrell Lane party, “Vester Weaver questioned her husband about a text message he had received. After a brief discussion, she stated that she felt something running down her face and realized it was blood. She never stated how she received the injury, nor did she indicate that her husband assaulted her.” In many instances, the report states that Vester Weaver would not talk about who hit her or with what. The report states, at various points, that “She refused to answer,” “She said no” and “Vester continued to be evasive to the questions.” However, the report noted Ptl. John Fabian, the initial responding officer, stated that, “She told him that her husband was intoxicated and began waving a gun around and stating that he would blow people’s heads off. Ptl. Fabian stated that she told him that her husband had struck her with a beer bottle. He did not record her statement or obtain a written statement from her.”... [Full article here]

POLICE REPORT: WIFE CALLED POLICE IN JANUARY DOMESTIC ARGUMENT WITH JUDGE: Municipal Court Judge Willie Weaver is free on a $10,000 bond after being charged with aggravated assault in a May 21 incident.

Albany Herald

J.D. Sumner

Jun 8, 2011

[Excerpts] The wife of embattled Albany Municipal Court Judge Willie Weaver called police to their home in January following an argument in which he "snatched some keys from her hand," saying that she was scared because there was a gun in the house, police reports show... She was given a domestic violence resource sheet by the responding officer, the report states... The Jan. 28 report, which is labeled "domestic violence unfounded," was filed by Lt. Carmelita Preston and was signed by supervising officer Capt. Mack Green. Green's house is where the May 21 incident occurred, according to police reports regarding that case. In the January APD report by Preston, Vester Weaver told the responding officer that she and Willie Weaver had gotten into a verbal altercation after she said she believed he had been cheating on her. The report states that when she attempted to leave, he snatched the keys out of her hands. The report goes on to state Vester Weaver felt the need to call police "because she knows there is a gun in the residence and she was scared." Preston's report also states that Vester Weaver said the two "have had problems in their marriage for a while."... [Full article here]

[Excerpts] At the Cathedral of Praise on West Broad Avenue on Monday, the wife of Albany Municipal Court Judge Willie Weaver stated publicly that her husband did not hit her with a beer bottle as he has been accused. Vester Weaver was surrounded by family and friends at a noon news conference, during which she made a brief statement regarding the May 21 incident in which a report from the Albany Police Department states that her husband hit her with a beer bottle... The group that surrounded Vester Weaver at the news conference included HOPE Center Pastor Loretta Boges and the Rev. James Bush, chairman of the Dougherty County School Board and pastor of the Greater Pines Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, of which the Weavers are members of... [Full article here]

EX-DOUGHERTY COUNTY POLICE OFFICER AND CURRENT GREATER PINES CHAPEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH REVEREND JAMES BUSH AT VESTER WEAVER'S CHURCH PRESS CONFERENCE:

"...Mrs. Weaver had wanted to make comments before today, but she continues to find herself fearful and distrustful of the media and some law enforcement agencies and personnel. She has been forced to learn that sometimes you hear things in the media that are not really based on the truth. She also has been forced to learn that you can be separated from your family members with no understanding of how and why it occurred. So, understandably, she is fearful and distrustful. Nevertheless, she has found the courage to stand before you today."

"As busy as he is, he is a man who always takes time for the multitude of people who call upon him. When called, he goes,” she said. “He goes to many church programs, to the school functions, to the community events and even to the birthday party of the 80-year-old grandmother across town. He feeds the hungry and clothes those who don’t have sufficient clothing. I have seen him go into his own pocket time after time, never complaining. As a municipal court judge, he has applied the law but has been fair and just in doing so. He takes his job as a judge seriously, but also treats every person with respect. No matter what side of the table you find yourself standing on, he will treat you with respect. Unfortunately, there are people in this world in important positions that do not think everyone should be treated with respect. They do not like the fact that as a judge, Willie Weaver is that kind of person. So, as a result, this kind of thing happens... This process has been unjust, unfair and destructive of a strong black family,” she continued. “Some people cannot stand to see a hard-working man, who takes care of his wife and children and supports his community, do well. That is what is going on here. We stand here today and for the duration of this unbelievable injustice for Mrs. Vester Weaver, her husband, their children and family and ask that this injustice end now. For the sake of two small children, who need both of their parents at the same time, and for the sanctity of family unity with this family and every family in this county, we ask that the order forbidding this family from worshipping and living together end now. Today it is the Weaver family. If we don’t take a stand and insist that this craziness end now, my family or your family can be next."

A SAMPLE OF WEB COMMENTS

...if Vester Weaver is being abused, then she has to stop the cycle, get help and file restraining orders. Get out, and leave and never come back...

...After reading the police report on the Invisible beer bottle bashing of Ms. Weaver, it is real obvious that the two APD supervisors and investigator tried to cover up the fight and talk her out what she said earlier in the evening. That poor rookie officer is going to get fried by his senior weaver buddy supervisors and detectives. Hilarious that veteran PD party witness Green didnt see anything. This call was a total cover up until GBI took over...

...I guess the Weavers believe they are above the law. She blatantly lied at her church about their relationship. It is really underhanded of them both for putting law enforcement and their friends in a position to have to cover up and lie for them. He needs to go and soon. How can the public have any faith in his judgment since it appears that he is a bully at home? Maybe we should ask his ex-wife or former girlfriends what type of character this man has and if they were ever treated the way he treats this current wife...

...James Bush is just another entitlement person and in his case lives off the salary of his church person and Dougherty County School Board. He was a sorry police officer and didnt last... If you ever get bored and want to see the Weaver legacy, research his APD cop brother and former APD nephew!...

...He does judge the public standing before him in a court of law, so I personally hold him, members of the police, and clergy members to a higher standard. They are supposed to be leaders in the community and what kind of example has this incident set?...

...Please do not judge all church people by handful. Everyone attends church is not all bad. I am sure there are some things happen in other churches of different race. We are not to judge only God can and will judge each of us. We should be praying for God to help this couple because we know the problem here is the age difference and immaturity on Mrs. Weaver's part...

...There have been alot of talk about Judge Weaver. I think the community needs to stay out of it... We ALL are human. Just give the family some privacy...

...If Judge Weaver did not hit her, then there must be a simple explanation for the injury that sent her to the emergency room...

...In this city, church "leaders" = henchmen. And the really sad part is, the elected officials cave everytime they show up! Sorry Mrs. Weaver, my mom was a victim of domestic violence and she asked several times for the cops do drop charges against my father. I'm glad they didn't...

...I am appalled that church people would stand behind this behavior. It was not made up. Look at this couple's past police complaints. The paper was reporting what she said and witnesses said about the incident... ...

...If she has the gull to lie in a church then she will lie in court. What church was this anyway so I remember NEVER to attend?...

...She told the ER staff that her husband hit her...

...IF SHE SAID HE DIDN'T DO IT WHY CAN'T YOU ALL BELIEVE HER. IF THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POLICE THERE WHY DIDN'T THEY ARREST HIM THEN. WILLIE PARENTS DIDN'R RAISE HIM THAT WAY...

...No victim, no crime...

...Okay, so with all the law enforcement at the party, who hit her if it wasn't Willie? If it truly was not him, then why aren't the officers who were there naming who did it?...

...Wow. She called a press conference and dressed like THAT??!! If it were cut any lower we could see her belly button!...

...Haven't you heard? He is getting his pay during this, at the tune of almost 18,000.00 dollars for the ninety day "leave of absence". Sounds to me like they both are profiting off of this...